Lathe Help Needed

[Carlsboats]

Have acquired a nice metal working lathe (Atlas, about 42" bed) and need help in relearning how to run the dang think. It has a mess of gears and belts, and accessories I will probably never need, but it was low priced, in good shape, and only a mile from my shop, so I bought it.
Trouble is, it has been a half century since I was required (at M.I.T. no less) to take a machine shop course, and I hardly remember how to sharpen a cutter, let alone run the screw threading feature. Does anyone know of a basic primer I could get -- Lathes for Dummies???

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

Lathe sizes are expressed in "swing". The largest nominal diameter that could be "swung" from the headstock without hitting the bed.
These lathes are usually termed "engine lathes"' or "screw turning lathes".
Since Atlas was a well known manufacturer I'll bet their instruction manuals can be had in used or in photocopied form.
Sears-Roebuck sold 6" and 10" Atlas flatbed lathes under their brand and the book they sold for those lathes is a good basic turning, threading and lathe set-up course. The book also has the gear charts for changing feeds and speeds on lathes that don't have quick-change gear boxes. You may need that.
The title of the Atlas/Craftsman lathe book is "Lathe Operation and Machinists Charts", Engineering Dept., Atlas Press Company, 1822 North Pitcher Street, Kalamazoo MI.
Mine the 21st edition of 1963.
Check out e-Bay for starters.

Charlie

[stef]

You could try http://www.mini-lathe.com/ they are geared to the amature mini lathe types but follow through the links and you should get enough clues to get startred.

[k4lmy]

Join the atlas_craftsman@yahoogroups.com group.. a bbgroup for the Craftsman / Atlas lathe group.. It will help you identify the lathe and provide you with source for parts , instructions and how to archives. Lots of knowledge accross the US, UK and elsewhere. Several web sites available with pictures and files.

Its a good shop lathe for the do it yourself - er.. Have fun and enjoy..

By the way I have one and have used it for bushings, springs , brass turning as well as thread work.. lots of capability for smaller work..

Henry

[TMny]

Another fine reference for hands-on learning:
"How To Run a Lathe" , Southbend latheworks....

[Bob Cleek]

I also just scored a very nice Atlas/Craftsman "101" series 12 X 36" metal lathe with all its accessories. Googling around, I came across this CD, which I ordered. It's great! Has reprints for everything you could want about Atlas lathes and lathe operations in general. Only about $25. I found it easiest to print out what I wanted and put it in a binder, since the screen format isn't the most convenient for workshop use. Definitely a must have. It will give you all the gear change ratios and so on.

http://www.quarterbore.com/store/cd/atlaslathemanual.htm

[emichaels]

You mind find some good help at this site.

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi

[shamus]

It sounds as though this is using "change wheels" for thread cutting rather than a gearbox. If that is so I recommend a small book called "Screwcutting on the lathe" by (pen name) "Martin Cleeve". The book is worth it for its sheer eccentricity, and is extremely practical as well. Includes a diatribe on the proper use of the 63 tooth gear, which I won't spoil by telling any more.

[Mike DeHart]

Don't get all worried about how to stack the gears for cutting threads. 99% of the threads you would ever want to cut can be cut with a purchased die or tap. Just turn the major diameter or drill the tap drill hole and let the proper tool do the rest. To tap internal threads, put the tap in a tailstock chuck. Leave the tailstock loose on the bed and slide it to the work with the piece turning as slow as possible. As the tap cuts it will pull the tailstock in. Shut down before the tap bottoms and things break. For outside threads put the die in a hand diestock. Turn your tool holder parallel to the work and let the diestock handle rest and ride against it. Empty the tailstock and use the flat face of it to square the die to the work. Again, slowest spindle speed, tailstock not clamped to the bed, push the tailstock to start the threads square, and shut everything down before it crashes. You can also turn the headstock by hand if tool crashes are a concern.

Tap and die holding tools can be made that make those jobs much easier and safer.

Visit www.chaski.com for a BB, similar to this one, with a focus on home machine shop things.

Buy a copy of Machinery's Handbook for information on tool grinding, tap drill specs, material specs, speeds & feeds, and a bunch of other metalworking stuff.

Buy $10,000 worth of micrometers, dial gauges, surface plates, and other assorted precision measuring and layout tools.

[Hughman]

Buy $10,000 worth of micrometers, dial gauges, surface plates, and other assorted precision measuring and layout tools.

This is another slippery slope, isn't it? :eek:

[Mike DeHart]

Nope. It's a friggin' high cliff! Slippery slopes are manageable.